2018-01-18 Teach Us To Pray.

We’ll be short today, as my schedule permits. As you know, I am a big fan of Susie Larson, a local celebrity and host on KTIS AM900 from 3-5 pm weekdays. She posts morning and evening blessings on Facebook that I think are so cool and touch so many people. I’m going to give it a try.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge – even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 1:15-23 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in all my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might, that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

That’s pretty cool. Ok, so I’m more than a little convicted. Paul says he remembers the Ephesians in all his prayers. I confess that I don’t remember you as often as I should. I’m about to change that, starting today. With each of these posts, I shall pray something like this over all of you. So, you’ll have that going for you most days of the week. And, if you think about it, pray like Paul instructs the Ephesians at the end of his letter:

Ephesians 6:18-20 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Do me a favor. Don’t ask that I may be put in chains. Please. For sure, however, pray that I may boldly proclaim the gospel. That is my pleasure.